The Chicago-made groundbreaking half hour pilot, The Come Up, is gaining international recognition for its raw and authentic portrayal of Chicago youth navigating life through the lens of slam poetry.
Featuring a Chicago-based cast and crew, the film has earned nine Best Pilot awards and six Best Actress accolades on the festival circuit.
Set against the backdrop of a challenging Chicago neighborhood, The Come Up follows four high schoolers who use slam poetry to navigate their lives. The pilot captures the struggles and victories of growing up in a city where adolescence often feels like a matter of survival.
The ensemble delivers powerful performances that reflect the complex realities of adolescence in Chicago. The cast includes rising stars Ireon Roach (Candyman, 4400, Chicago PD), Victor Musoni (61st Street, Chicago Med), Tevion Devin Lanier (South Side, Empire, Chicago PD), and stand-up comedian Kellye Howard (Power Book Force, Chicago Fire).
The creators of The Come Up, including the writers, director, lead cast, and key production members, share a unique bond — they all attended the same Chicago high school. The school, known at the time for its gang violence, underwent a transformation under a new principal, who introduced an arts magnet program.
The filmmakers were part of the school’s theater department, a space where creativity flourished despite limited resources. According to the team, their experience was far from the rosy depictions of high school life in pop culture phenomena like High School Musical or Victorious.
The narrative stems directly from the filmmakers’ own high school experiences, where balancing creative pursuits with staying safe on the streets was a daily challenge. Despite the hardships, their passion for storytelling and art prevailed, leading to this powerful production.
“We walked through metal detectors like any other CPS high school,” they shared. “CPD officers would cuff kids in the lunchroom or on the front lawn. But we also created incredible theater with sets funded entirely by the Dollar Tree.”
This environment of resilience and resourcefulness laid the groundwork for The Come Up. The team even competed in Louder Than A Bomb, the world’s largest youth poetry competition, performing live in front of over 3,500 attendees.
Watch the entire film here. Streaming free on YouTube.
The success of The Come Up speaks not only to the talent of its creators but also to the power of authentic storytelling. With its accolades stacking up and its poignant exploration of youth resilience, the film is poised to reach an even broader audience.
For the filmmakers, The Come Up is more than just a project — it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Chicago’s youth. As one of the creators put it, “For kids growing up in Chicago, adolescence is truly something you need to survive.”
Director
E.J. NiBlack-Gray
Writer
Justin Ryan Burns
Executive Producer
Justin Ryan Burns
Michael Heath
Mona Heath
Producer
Tevion Lanier
Co-Producer
LaTaryion Perry
Troy Pryor at Creative Cypher is involved in marketing and distribution
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